Preventive effects of the polysaccharide of Larimichthys crocea swim bladder on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic damage

The aim of the present study was to determine the preventive effects of the polysaccharide of Larimichthys crocea swim bladder (PLCSB) on CCl4-induced hepatic damage in ICR mice. The in vitro preventive effects of PLCSB on CCl4-induced liver cytotoxic effect were evaluated in BRL 3A rat liver cells using the MTT assay. The serum levels of AST, ALT, and LDH in mice were determined using commercially available kits. The levels of IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were determined using ELISA kits. The pathological analysis of hepatic tissues was performed with H and E staining, and the gene and protein expressions were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. PLCSB (20 μg·mL−1) could increase the growth of BRL 3A rat liver cells treated with CCl4. The serum levels of AST, ALT, and LDH were significantly decreased when the mice were treated with two doses of PLCSB, compared with the control mice (P < 0.05). PLCSB-treated groups also showed reduced levels of the serum pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. PLCSB could decrease the liver weight, compared to the CCl4-treated control mice. The histopathology sections of liver tissues in the 100 mg·kg−1 PLCSB group indicated that the animals were recovered well from CCl4 damage, but the 50 mg·kg−1 PLCSB group showed necrosis to a more serious extent. The 100 mg·kg−1 PLCSB group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of NF-κB, iNOS, and COX-2, and increased expression of IκB-α compared with the CCl4-treated control group. In conclusion, PLCSB prevented from CCl4-induced hepatic damage in vivo.